UPDATE: Governor declares Abilene, much of area a disaster in wake of flooding

Shannon Arredondo loads into her parents' truck sandbags at Global Samaritan Resources with the help of volunteer Jacob Arbanas, airman first class stationed at Dyess AIr Force Base, on Friday.(Photo: Laura Gutschke/Reporter-News)Buy Photo

The disaster declaration makes Taylor County and the city of Abilene eligible for funding from the state and federal government to recoup costs associated with flooding, said Mari Cockerell, city spokeswoman.

“Those costs can include items like overtime pay for first responders and personnel, to roadway clearing and repair,” Cockerell said.

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Several businesses at the Westwood Shopping Center at North Sixth and Willis streets are lined with plastic sheeting held down with sandbags to guard against flooding on Friday in case nearby Elm Creek overflows.(Photo: Laura Gutschke/Reporter-News)

The city was keeping a close watch on lakes and creeks, especially Elm Creek in west Abilene.

On Thursday afternoon, Lake Abilene breached its spillway. Water from the lake flows into Elm Creek, which flows through Abilene.

On Friday, the water flow at Lake Abilene and along Elm Creek was stabilizing, Cockerell said.

Emergency Management Coordinator Jim Bryan said it takes water from Lake Abilene between 12 to 18 hours to reach the city.

Bryan and his team planned to continue to keep a close eye on lake and creek levels, “as they will be affected by rainfall forecasted Friday and the weekend,” the city’s statement said.

Those worried about the possibility of rising waters took advantage of sandbags available at Global Samaritan Resources, 2074 North 1st St., Thursday and Friday.

“It was pretty busy this morning, but it’s been hit or miss since then,” said Michael Bob Starr, Global Samaritan executive director. “We have a couple of volunteers, but it’s self-serve, so we’re asking the people who come to help fill their own bags.”

Waist-deep water

Outside of Abilene, those around Lake Stamford continued to deal with the effects of floodwaters.

Chris Haas Friday morning shared his experience of going wading in the recreational cabin he owns by the lake.

At its greatest height, “the water in my cabin got up to probably waist-deep, about three-and-a-half feet, probably,” Haas said.

“I’m sure it’s still two-and-a-half-feet deep,” said Haas, who does not live on the property, but went out Thursday to assess the damage.

“It’ll take it a while to go down, I think,” he said Friday. “Water was still coming in yesterday, and it’s rained on me all morning.”

He noted that his parents had just bought a cabin near him, which also took on water.

“They’ve been remodeling theirs, and they got water in (it),” he said. “Theirs is probably a foot-and-a-half up off the ground compared to mine.”

Haas said he had anticipated the water would rise, and that there was little to do to stop it.

“In 2005, all you could see was a roof on my cabin," he said. "It was eight-feet deep.”

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Water floats up to the front door of a house at Lake Stamford Thursday. Heavy rains have filled the lake to overflowing, flooding homes along the shore for the first time in several years.(Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News)

Haas estimated that there were “at least” 75 cabins near him around the lake, and said he wouldn’t be surprised if 75 percent had water “in them or up to them.”

He said he wasn’t sure what would survive of his personal cabin’s contents, from furniture to a flat screen television.

“The icebox, the deep freeze, everything is kind of gone,” he said. “So we’ll rent a dumpster, haul it all off, and start a remodel.”

But even with the lake’s invasion, Haas maintained an easygoing attitude, saying it was “hard to get mad” about the situation.

“It’s kind of hard to complain about the rain, it’s been so dry,” he said.

Flash flood water remains(Photo: National Weather Service)

Rain to return?

Following a slight chance of rain overnight, Saturday's forecast is the first in a week not to mention rain. The National Weather Service is calling for mostly cloudy skies and a high of 68 on Saturday.

Sunday is expected to be partly sunny, but there is a 20 percent chance of showers Sunday night.

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John Surgeon backs along the Lake Fort Phantom Hill spillway road after attempting to cross it Thursday Oct. 18, 2018 when it was at the two-foot-high mark on the flood gauge. Surgeon had already driven across it with a friend and had attempted to go back, but he said the water had risen several more inches since his previous crossing and that was too much for his vehicle. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Water covers the flood gauge nearly to the two-foot level Thursday Oct. 18, 2018 at the Lake Fort Phantom Hill. Heavy rains in the region have caused waters to rush over the spillway. Within half an hour of this picture, the water had risen another four inches. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

A motorist drives across the Lake Fort Phantom Hill spillway Thursday Oct. 18, 2018. Floodwaters were covering the flood gauge at the two-foot mark and were still rising. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Chris Haas surveys the floodwaters surrounding his cabin at Lake Stamford Thursday Oct. 18, 2018. Heavy rains have filled the lake to overflowing, flooding homes along the shore for the first time in several years. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Water floats up to the front door of a house at Lake Stamford Thursday Oct. 18, 2018. Heavy rains have filled the lake to overflowing, flooding homes along the shore for the first time in several years. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

A pickup is surrounded by floodwaters Thursday Oct. 18, 2018 at Lake Stamford. Heavy rains have filled the lake to overflowing, flooding homes along the shore for the first time in several years. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Waterfowl swim past a home's door Thursday Oct. 18, 2018 at Lake Stamford. Heavy rains have filled the lake to overflowing, flooding homes along the shore for the first time in several years. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Officials monitor the Lake Abilene spillway Thursday evening Oct. 18, 2018. The lake was beginning to wash over it and was covering a nearby road with about three inches of water. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Several businesses at the Westwood Shopping Center at North Sixth and Willis streets are lined with plastic sheeting held down with sandbags to guard against flooding on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, in case nearby Elm Creek overflows its banks. Laura Gutschke/Reporter-News